Declaring black fungus as epidemic, Government today notified J&K Epidemic Diseases (Mucormycosis) Regulations, making it mandatory for all Government and private health institutions to report suspected and confirmed cases to the Health Department.
“S.O. 182 – In exercise of powers conferred by the section 2 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 (Act No. 3 of 1897), the Lt Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has regulated J&K Epidemic Diseases (Mucormycosis) Regulations, 2021. These regulations shall extend to the whole of J&K and shall come into force from the date of publication of this official gazette,” reads the notification issued by the Health and Medical Education Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
“All the Government and private health facilities, medical colleges will follow the guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of Mucormycosis issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (GoI)/ICMR/Government of J&K as amended from time to time and makes it mandatory for all these facilities to report suspected and confirmed cases to the health department through district level Chief Medical Officers and integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).”
It was strictly directed that no person/institution or organization will spread any information or material for management of Mucormycosis without prior permission from the Direction Health Services, Jammu as well as Kashmir.
The notification says: “No person/institution or organization will use any print/electronic or any other forms of media for Mucormycosis without prior permission from the Director Health Services of both regions.”
“The Director Health Services Jammu/Kashmir shall constitute a district committee headed by Chief Medical Officer of the concerned district which will have specialist of internal medicine, ophthalmology, ENT, and Epidemiologist as members to review any disobeying by the person or institution or organization of the notification or any order issued under these regulations.”
However, if the disobeying is proved, a notice would be issued by the concerned CMO against the person, institution or organization indicating the offence conducted as per this notification.
“The reply received against the notice will be reviewed by the district committee. If reply is not received within stipulated time of receipt of the notice or if the reply is found unsatisfactory by the committee and it is confirmed that the person, institution or organization has disobeyed regulations, the concerned CMO will take necessary action against the person or institution or organization as per section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897,” the regulation notification says.
For disobeying the regulations, the delinquent person or institution or organization will be punished under section 188 of Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), the notification says.